Easel



(.NQM odeI.)

. E. WERNER.

EASEL.

Patented July 17, 1883.

NVENTOR WITNESSES: I V4 @M N. PEIERS. PhnioLilhognphen Washington. D. C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL WVERNER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

EASEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,591, dated July 17,1883.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL WERNER, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Easels, which improvementis fully set forth in the following specification and accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front view of an easel embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a view of theeasel folded. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section in line a; 00, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

My invention consists of an easel having folding legs, each of which isformed of parts adapted to be folded one within the other,

and a stretcher, as hereinafter described, for

holding apart the legs of the easel and preventing unfolding of theparts of which each of the legs is constructed.

It further consists-of a tray, which may be readily moved from positionto occupy but little space, and is provided with means for clamping itto the slide, to which it is attached, and the bar to which said slideis fitted.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the legs of the easel, which arepivoted at top to blocks B. 0 represents the tray of the easel, the samebeing connected with a sliding bar, D, which is fitted to a stationarybar, E, which depends from and is secured to the blocks B. The legs Aare each formed of two parts, a b, pivoted together, the part a beingvertically slotted, to permit the part b to be folded thereinto. The topof each part Z2 of the side legs is recessed or notched, as at c, and inthe side pieces or side walls of the part a are slots d, which occupycoincident places with said notches, and are deeper than the same, so asto receive the ends of a stretcher, F, which,

when the parts of the legs are unfolded and the legs spread apart, serveto retain the same in operative position. On the under side of the endsof the stretcher F are recesses e, the object whereof is to permit thestretcher to lock the parts of the legs when unfolded, as will behereinafter set forth. The parts of the rear leg, when unfolded, areprevented from 5o-displacement by means of a pin or key, G,

which is passed through the bottom of the part a and top of the part I),thus connecting said parts, as more readily seen in Fig. 2.

The tray 0 is secured to the sliding bar D by means of a bolt, H, whichis passed loosely through said bar, a metal band, J and a vertical slotin the fixed or stationary bar E, said band J being'screwed or otherwiseconnected with thelower end of the bar D and loosely encircling the barE. The inner side of the tray 0 is out out, forming a recess, f, toreceive the band J, and the outer end of the bolt H is threaded, and hasthereon a winged or thumb nut, K, for tightening purposes. It will beseen that by loosening the nut K the tray may be disengaged from theband J and rotated so as to occupy a position parallel with the bars DE, convenient for packing and storing purposes, as shown in Fig. 3. Byagain placing the tray in proper horizontal position and tightening thenut K, the tray, band, and bars D E are clamped together, thus'securelyholding the tray, the recess f assisting to pre- 7 vent rotary movementof the tray, the bar D being also prevented from shifting on the bar E.When thetray is to be raised or lowered, the nut K is loosened and thetray moved the required direction, the bar D sliding on the stationarybar 'E, after which the nut is again tightened and the tray is securelyheld in its adjusted position.

On the sliding bar D is fitted a sliding clamp, L, which is above thetray, and adapted-to be moved toward and from the same, the bottom ofthe clamp having spurs or teeth for engage- 85 ment with the frame orarticle resting on the tray.

On the sides of the bar E are vertical grooves 9, (shown in thebroken-awaypart of Fig. 2,) to receive the inwardly-bent ends of lips M,which are secured to the sides of the clampL, said lips thus serving toconnect the clamp and bar and guide the clamp in its raising and lowering motions. In order to prevent the clamp from shifting, I employ ascrew, N, which is fitted to the clamp and tightens on the bar D.

In practice Iform the legs, blocks, stretcher, bars, tray, and clamp ofwood and other parts of suitable metal, thus forming a light, strong,durable, and inexpensive easel, the side legs Ioo being securely heldapart and prevented from accidental folding, owing to the locking actionof the walls of the recesses c of the stretchcr with the walls of theslots (1 of the parts a of the legs, said stretcher also locking the topparts, I), of the legs and preventing them from rotation, it being seenthat the walls of the recesses c straddle the sides of both parts a b ofthe legs adjacent to the pivots of said parts, the security of the legsin their operative position thus being assured.

By removing the stretcher F and withdrawing the pin G, the legs may befolded within each other, and are then brought together. The tray ismoved around parallel with the bar D, and the stretcher may be laid onany part, the whole forming a compact bundle, as seen in Fig. 3,convenient for shipment, carrying, o1 stowing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. An easel having legs formed of folding parts, and a stretcher adaptedto lock said parts and hold the legs apart, said stretcher havingrecesses the walls of which straddle the sides of both parts of the legsadjacent to the pivots thereof, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

2. In an easel, a stationary bar and a sliding bar fitted thereto, incombination with a tray which is connected with said sliding bar by abolt adapted to clamp both bars and said tray, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

3. The tray with recess f, in combination with the sliding bar, stationarybar, band, bolt, and nut, said bolt passing through the bars and bandand clamping both bars and tray, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

4. The sliding bar fitted to a stationary bar, in combination with asliding clamp fitted to said sliding bar by lips which are secured tothe clamp, and enter grooves in the sides of the sliding bar, saidsliding clamp having fitted to it a screw which tightens against thesliding bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I

5. In an easel, a leg formed of pivoted parts, one part having a notch.and the other part having slots, in combination with a stretcher whoseends enter the said notch and slots and interlock with both parts of theleg, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

EMIL \VERNER.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDEnsnnIM, A. P. GRANT.

